The LiMo Foundation has announced it will release a series of application software development kits (SDKs) for its mobile phone specification in the second half of the year. The strategic rollout will include SDKs for native Linux, Java, and Webkit.

(Click for larger view of mock-up of the LiMo-compatible Azingo Mobile)

As previously announced, Wind River provides the foundational components for LiMo's common integration environment (CIE), while Azingo is furnishing higher-level tools. Both companies could see commercial gain as the LiMo SDKs become generally available for the broader community of application developers outside of LiMo's membership.

LiMo's application SDK suite will provide Eclipse-based development environments to encourage widespread software development for LiMo handsets coming to market toward the end of the year, says the Foundation. The SDK suite is being developed by a variety of LiMo board members. Access plans to work on the Native SDK, Aplix will focus on the Java SDK, and Motorola will work on developing an SDK for the Webkit HTML rendering engine.

LiMo architecture

Earlier this week, LiMo announced that 18 mobile handsets that support its Linux Mobile platform are shipping or are on their way from Aplix, LG Electronics, Motorola, NEC, Panasonic Mobile Communications, Purple Labs, and Samsung. The LiMO Foundation also announced the addition of nine new members, including Access, Orange, and AMD.

Launched a year ago, LiMo is set to publicly reveal its R1 release of the LiMo mobile phone application programming interfaces (APIs) in March. The APIs have already been released to LiMo members, enabling software vendors to start porting applications to the GTK-based stack. One such vendor is Azingo, which recently announced that its Azingo Mobile stack (pictured above in a mock-up) is the first commercially available, LiMo-compliant software.

Stated Jason Whitmire, GM of mobile solutions at Wind River, “Wind River is pleased that LiMo Foundation will extend the Common Integration Environment (CIE) based on Wind River's commercial Linux technology to enable LiMo's SDK suite for application developers. Wind River will work with LiMo Core Members to provide additional tools to facilitate integration and management of application code contributions from OEMs, ISVs, and the open source community to support LiMo's rapidly evolving mobile phone stack and ecosystem.”

No specific timeframe for availability was announced for the LiMo SDKs.

 
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